"How much was Spotify paid from Universal" — DJ Akademiks says fans spotted Not Like Us in search results when searching for other artists

DJ Akademiks, a prominent figure in the music and media world, has sparked a fresh debate around Spotify's business dealings with Universal Music Group (UMG).

On November 27, 2024, DJ Akademiks took to X to share a tweet accompanied by screenshots provided by fans. The images revealed an unusual occurrence on Spotify, where users searching for various artists' names were unexpectedly shown the song Not Like Us in the search results.

DJ Akademiks raised questions about the situation, allegedly asking how much Spotify was paid by UMG to influence these search results —

"Why is not like us showing up when pop smoke, Kanye, 2 pac and Dr Dre searched 🤔 how much was Spotify paid from universal," the DJ wrote.

The tweet comes after Drake filed a petition on November 25, 2024, in which he accused UMG and Spotify of using improper tactics to promote Kendrick Lamar's single, Not Like Us, to listeners.

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DJ Akademiks reacts to fans spotting Not Like Us in search results for various artists

On Wednesday, DJ Akademiks took to his X account to share screenshots provided by a fan, @Underrated_Dom.

The four images depicted the fans searching for the names of Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Pop Smoke, and Kanye West on Spotify. However, alongside the songs of these artists, the search results also displayed Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar —

"Fans catch Spotify placing "not like us" in the search results when searching for different artists unrelated to Kendrick Lamar," DJ Akademiks wrote.

DJ Akademiks' tweet followed two petitions filed by Drake. The first petition, submitted to the Manhattan court on Monday, November 25, 2024, alleges that UMG and Spotify used bots, payola, and other unusual metrics to boost the song's reach artificially.

According to The Verge, the petition was filed by Drake's firm, Frozen Moments LLC, and claims that UMG charged Spotify 30 percent less for licensing the track while failing to disclose the compensation they received for promoting Not Like Us —

"UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 percent lower than its usual licensing rates for "Not Like Us" in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommending the Song to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists," Drake's lawyer wrote.

The second petition, filed with the Texas court on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, accuses UMG of defamation. According to The Guardian, this petition, like the first, is not a formal lawsuit but rather a request for information from critical parties in preparation for a potential future lawsuit.

The petition claims that the distributor of the song Not Like Us knew that it falsely accused Drake of pedophilia but still proceeded to release the track.

Additionally, the petition argues that UMG had the option to refuse the release or distribution of the song or to require the removal or editing of the allegedly offending material.

However, UMG chose not to take these actions. Drake's lawyers have stated that they possess sufficient evidence to prove UMG's defamation and are also exploring allegations of fraud and illegal business practices.

In response, UMG has denied the allegations, asserting that they adhere to the highest ethical standards in their marketing and promotional campaigns. The company added:

"The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns," the UMG said.

As the legal proceedings continue, how far the petition filed by Drake's legal team will progress remains to be seen. Additionally, neither Spotify nor Kendrick Lamar has commented on the ongoing developments.